Balance Chords
Irish Tune From County Derry (20-5min) Think of this piece as a long crescendo that starts on meas 1 but peaks at measure 58! It rises and falls along the way, but the true climax happens at 58. Grainger was a master of orchestration. You will notice that he uses instrumentation to aid his “long” crescendo. Our challenge will be to hold back until the magic moment at 58. The tempo marking is at 80, but conductors typically take it circa 60. Think balance chords as you play. This is a great "tuning piece."
Fairest of the Fair (15min) Though we will ultimately perform this at 120, we will rehearse it Thursday night at 100 to nail down articulation and especially the 3 grace note lead-ins that are characteristic of this piece. Good dynamics are essential. Like most Sousa marches, the tessitura of this march is that it is written in the upper range. Our challenge will be to not overblow and therefore distort the sound, especially in the upper woodwinds. (The reason so many Sousa marches are written in the upper range, is because they were meant to be performed outdoors which helps the sound to carry. Lower ranges deaden sound projection outdoors.)
Symphonic Dance no. 3 (8min) Run-through. Our challenge: no stopping (but if we do stop, it’s no big whup at this point)
Carmen Suite (30min-about 7 minutes per mvt.)
Mvt 1 – Lite staccato style throughout. Our challenge: restraint at the forte levels. The forte of a transcription is not as bold as a Clifton Williams forte.
Mvt 2 – This is opera and this tune is meant to be sung. Imagine yourselves in the pit orchestra for a performance. The orchestra always supports the singer and never covers them up. Our challenge: restraint at the forte levels.
Mvt 3 – The famous Toreador Song. Again, support the melody and do not cover it up. Our challenge: restraint at the forte levels.
Mvt 4 – This is the most subtle, yet most technical of the 4 mvts. Our challenge: for this rehearsal are the accidentals. Please come prepared to play this mvt with confident fingers.
Someone to Watch Over Me – (15min)
Coming soon, You Raise Me Up. Soprano soloist from the Pops Singers, Rachel Love is going to sing with us. I have purchased the arrangement, however I am re-editing it in a more comfortable key for her voice.
Thank you for your commitment to maximize efficiency in rehearsals.
See you Thursday!
Jim